Bruce Springsteen took the stage Saturday in St. Paul, Minnesota to perform “Streets of Minneapolis” at the flagship No Kings rally.
“This past winter, federal troops brought death and terror to the streets of Minneapolis, but they picked the wrong city,” Springsteen told the crowd of thousands outside Minnesota State Capitol. “The power and the solidarity of the people of Minneapolis and Minnesota was an inspiration to the entire country. Your strength and your commitment told us that this is still America, and this reactionary nightmare — and these invasions of American cities — will not stand. You gave us hope, you gave us courage.”
Springsteen continued, “And for those who gave their lives: Renee Good, mother of three, brutally murdered. Alex Pretti, VA nurse, executed by ICE. Shot in the back and left to die in the street without even the decency of our lawless government investigating their deaths. Their bravery, their sacrifice, and their names will not be forgotten.” Springsteen then launched into “Streets of Minneapolis.”
“The No Kings movement is of great import right now,” Springsteen told The Minnesota Star Tribune earlier this week. “When you have the opportunity to sing something where the timing is essential and if you have something powerful to sing, it elevates the moment, it elevates your job to another level.”
Springsteen, who wrote and recorded “Streets of Minneapolis” in the aftermath of the ICE shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, debuted the song live January 30 at a benefit concert at the city’s First Avenue.
“There are certain moments where you’re in the right place at the right time and something deeply meaningful occurs that is bigger than the band. It all has to do with the events of the day, the moment you’re in,” Springsteen told the Minnesota Star Tribune of the First Avenue gig. “And so being in Minneapolis [in January] goes way up to the top of the list as far as meaningful shows I’ve played.”
Springsteen performed the protest song a second time live earlier this week at Democracy Now!’s 30th anniversary event in New York, and for the third time Saturday in St. Paul.
Springsteen and the E Street Band will kick off their Land of Hope and Dreams Tour this Tuesday in Minneapolis. “The tour is going to be political and very topical about what’s going on in the country,” Springsteen told the Star Tribune earlier this week. “Minneapolis and St. Paul, that was the place I wanted to begin it, and I wanted to end it in Washington.”